city hall entrance

Managing a Planning Organization

At the end of this course, you will understand how to motivate and inspire staff; what steps to take to deal with unmotivated personnel; and how to manage an office as part of a larger organization.

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Course Info

  • Duration 9 video lessons (63 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2017
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Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 2 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Managing a Planning Office
    Chapter Duration 7 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    Working in the Public Sector
    Chapter Duration 12 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    Motivating Good Employees
    Chapter Duration 11 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Difficult Employees
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    Recruitment and Retention
    Chapter Duration 7 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    7.
    Managing the Money and Logistics
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    8.
    Closing Thoughts
    Chapter Duration 2 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    9.
    Frequently Asked Questions
    Chapter Duration 7 mins

Course Description

Planning is a technical profession by training. Most planning directors and other managers get their positions by being good planners first, and good managers second (if at all). Learning how to manage staff can be a challenge for people who may be very good at subdivision review, or long range planning, but have not had much experience or training in how to motivate people. Add to that the extra challenges of a public office—limited control over pay raises and union involvement in labor relations to name just two—and its clear a whole new set of skills is needed.

At the end of this course, you will understand how to motivate and inspire staff; what steps to take to deal with unmotivated personnel; and how to manage an office as part of a larger organization.

Learn these skills

  • Career Development

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM credit.

CNU-A

This course is approved for 1 CNU-A credit.

SACPLAN CPD

This course is approved for 1 SACPLAN CPD point.

Meet Your Instructor

Jeff Levine

Jeff Levine

Jeff is the Planning and Urban Development Director for Portland, ME.

Meet Instructor

Course Reviews

4.33
Carlos Maldonado

Carlos Maldonado

Extremely Satisfied
Carli Meyer

Carli Meyer

Extremely Satisfied
Andrea Dorlester

Andrea Dorlester

Satisfied
The course gives good advice, generally, but seems tailored to a small planning office in a small to mid-size community. I have worked in planning departments in large communities (750,000 - 1,000,000 population) with 100-200 staff and the management issues can be more complex.
Ella Taylor

Ella Taylor

Satisfied

Course Reviews

42%
50%
8%
0%
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Carlos Maldonado

Carlos Maldonado

Extremely Satisfied
Carli Meyer

Carli Meyer

Extremely Satisfied
Andrea Dorlester

Andrea Dorlester

Satisfied
The course gives good advice, generally, but seems tailored to a small planning office in a small to mid-size community. I have worked in planning departments in large communities (750,000 - 1,000,000 population) with 100-200 staff and the management issues can be more complex.
Ella Taylor

Ella Taylor

Satisfied
Patricia Ortiz

Patricia Ortiz

Satisfied
David Weir

David Weir

Satisfied
Chris French

Chris French

Extremely Satisfied
Cameron Langille

Cameron Langille

Extremely Satisfied

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